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No. 620,649. Patented Mar. 7, I899.

C. M. HAMILTON 8:. A. S. LECKIE.

PNEUMATIC CARRIER SYSTEM.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 18 97.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 620,649. Patented Mar. 7, I899. C. M. HAMILTON & A. S. LECKIE.

PNEUMATIC CARRIER SYSTEM.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1897.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 620,649. Patented Mar. 7, I899. C. M. HAMILTON & A. S. LECKIE.

PNEUMATIC CARRIER SYSTEM.

(Applicatiun filed Aug. 11, 1897') (No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 3.

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No. 620,649. Patented .Mar. 7, I899. C. M. HAMILTON & A. S. LECKIE.

PNEUMATIC CARRIER SYSTEM.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1897.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-+Sheet 4.

Nirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CASSIUS M. HAMILTON AND AROHIBALD S. LECKIE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO ADDISON O. THOMAS, OF SAME PLACE.

PN EU MATlC-CARRIER SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,649, dated March 7, 1899.

Application filed August 11, 1897. Serial No. 647,805. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that we, OAssIUs M. HAMILTON and AROHIBALD S. LECKIE, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a pneu- IO matic carrier of that class which comprises a tube forming a circuit between the stations,

a transmitting device included in one and a receiving device included in the other of the two sides of the tube-circuit at each of the stations, and a blast apparatus by which a current of air is caused to traverse the tubecircuit. Preferably the blast apparatus is so disposed with relation to the tube-circuit that it exhausts the air from it at one end, its other end being open for the admission of air to take the place of that which is exhausted; but, if desired, the blast apparatus may without departing from any part of the present invention be so disposed as to discharge a blast of air into one end of the tube system,

the other end being open for its escape.

The present invention is not in any way concerned with the construction of the receiver, as a receiver of any form may be used, this part being shown only diagrammatically in the drawings.

The invention resides in part in the construction of the transmitter, and the improved transmitter may be used in a system having either a single tube-circuit or a plurality of tube-circuits, and it may be used in a system which does or does not contain the other features of the invention.

The invention also resides in part in means for reversing the current of air through the tube-circuit or tube-circuits or a part thereof for the purpose of removing obstructions, and this feature of the invention may be used in a system which does or does not contain the other features.

The invention also resides in part in the disposition of the tube-circuits in a system which has a plurality of such circuits, to the end that with a single blast apparatus and a single reversing device the current through one tube-circuit may be reversed while the current through the other tube-circuit is trav eling in its regular course. I

The invention consists inthe features of novelty which are hereinafter fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and in WlllGl1'- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a pneumatic carrier having a single tubecircuit and embodying some features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the valve mechanism on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the valve removed from its casing. .Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are diagram matic representations of a pneumatic carrier embodying the invention in its preferred form, the several figures showing the valve in three different positions and the air following as many different courses through the system. Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively an elevation and a plan view of a transmitter constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 9 is a view showing in detail the construction of the transmitter-lock. Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively a front elevation and a side elevation of the valve device. Fig. 12 is a section thereof on the line 12 12, Fig. 10, look ing in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the valve removed from its casing.

Referring first to the simple system shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A A represent a tube circuit, the ends of which communicate with the interior of easing B of the valve device, with which communicates also a tube 0, extending to a blast apparatus of some suitable form. The extremities a a of the two sides A and A, respectively, of the tube-circuit are shown as entering the valve-case at diametrically opposite points, while the tube 0 communicates with the valve-case midway between them; but this disposition is not an essential feature of the invention and, as will be more fully explained hereinafter, may be departed from, any arrangement of the tubes which will give the results aimed at being within the scope of the invention. Incorporated in the tube-circuit are receivers D D and transmitters E E, one receiver and one transmitter being located at each of the stations between which the system extends, the transmitter being in one and the receiver in the other of the two sides of the circuit. The receivers may be of customary or of any desired construction, each of them being provided with a door through which the carrier is removed and which may be opened for the admission of air under conditions hereinafter described. The novel features of the transmitter will be described when we come to consider the preferred form of the invention. So far as the form now under consideration is concerned it is sufficient to say that it contains a plurality of cells which are mounted so as to be capable of revolving about a center, whereby any one of the cells may be incorporatedin the tube-circuit. The valvecase Bin this simple form of the invention is in the nature of ashort cylinder permanently closed at one end and having in its sides openings properly disposed for communication with the tubes A, A, and C. At its other end the valve-case is closed by a disk G, which is carried by the .valve proper, H. This valve consists of a wing on the under side of the disk G, which crosses the valve-case diametrically and has contact with the closed end thereof, so as to divide the interior of the case into two compartments X and Y. The valve is mounted to revolve about an axis which is concentric with the valve-case, so that when in one position, as indicated by dotted lines at h in Fig. 1, the tube 0 is placed in communication with the extremity a, of the tube-circuit through the medium of the chamberXwhile the extremityctof said tubecircuit is in communication with the chamber Y, the latter bein gin communication with the atmosphere through the medium of perforations g, formed through the disk G upon one side of the valve H. While the valve is in this position air will enter the chamber Y- through said perforations thence enter the extremity CL of the tube-circuit, thence pass through the transmitter E, thence through the side A of the tube-circuit to the receiver D at the distant station, thence to the transmitter E, thence through the side A of the tube-circuit to the receiver D, thence through the extremity a of the tube-circuit into the chamber X of the valve-case, and thence to the blast apparatus through the tube 0. \Vhile taking this course carriers may be sent from the transmitter E to the receiver D or from the transmitter E to the receiver D, this being the normal condition and operation of the system. Should it happen, however, that the tube-circuit becomes obstructed by the sticking of the carrier, by moving the valve H to the position indicated by dotted lines at 71/2, Fig. 1, the direction of the current will be exactly reversed, and the effect of this will be to dislodge the obstructing carrier and return it to the transmitter through which it was inserted and from which it may then be removed, said transmitter being provided with perforations k,adapted to receive a pin 10, which crosses its cell, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8, and prevents the carrier from leaving it at the side which receives air when the system is in normal condition.

We are aware that it has been proposed to construct a pneumatic-carrier system of a tube-circuit through one side of which a current of air travels from one station to another and through the other side of which the same current of air is returned to the station first aforesaid, means being provided for reversing the direction of the current for the purpose of sending the carriers back and forth between the two stations through one and the same side of the circuit, the other side serving merely as a means for completing the circuit and being without any transmitting or receiving devices. Such is not the equivalent of our invention.

We believe ourselves to be the first to provide a pneumatic-carrier system which comprises a complete tube-circuit with a transmitting and a receiving device included in each of the two sides thereof, so that one side may be used for sending carriers in one direction and the other for sending carriers in the opposite direction, said system being provided with means for reversing the course of the air through it for the purpose of dislodging obstructions, and we therefore desire to have it understood that in its broadest aspect the invention is not limited to any particular means for accomplishing this result. Nor is it limited to the number of tube-circuits comprised in the system or to their disposition further than that each circuit shall be complete in itself and include in each of its two sides a transmitting device and a receiving device, one transmitting and one receiving device being located at each station, so that normally one side of the system is used for sending carriers in one direction and the other side for sending them in the opposite direction. We prefer, however, that the system shall comprise a plurality of such tubecircuits arranged in series, as it were, and we prefer that the several tube-circuits shall be completed through the casing of the valve device and that the valve device shall be of such construction that when the course of the current is reversed. through any one tube-circuit there shall be at least one tube-circuit (preferably all excepting the obstructed one) through which the current courses normally, and we prefer, furthermore, that the tubecircuit which is thus left in normal operation shall be nearest the blast apparatus in order that the current through it shall have sufficient force to meet the demands incident to the increased work which will be given it to do while the obstructed tube-circuit is out of service.

Referring now to Figs. at to 13, inclusive, I and I represent the two sides of a tube-circuit, and J and J the two sides of a second tube-circuit, said circuits being arranged in series, the connection between them being made through the casing F of the valve device B. This casing has openings 2', 2", and

j, with which the ends of the tubes 1, I, J,

. case, while excluding foreign substances of any considerable size. The valve proper is mounted to revolve about an axis which is concentric with the valve-case, and it comprises three radial wings H H H and a plate fitting against the under side of the face-plate f of the case and blanking the cell X between the wings H H and the cell Y between the wings l-I H leaving between the wings H and H a cell Z, coextensive in area with the perforated portion of the faceplate f. The wings are so disposed that each of the cells X and Y is of sufficient area to span two adjacent openings of the valve-case, while the cell Z is only of sufficient area to span one of said openings. When the system is in normal operation, with the valve in the position shown in Figs. 4, l0, and 12, the air enters the cell Z through the perforations f passes thence to the transmitter K, thence to the receiver L, thence to the transmitter M, thence to the receiver N,

' thence to the cell X of the valve-case, thence to the transmitter K, thence to the receiver 0, thence to the transmitter P, thence to the receiver Q, thence to the cell Y of the valvecase, and thence to the blast apparatus. It will be understood that the transmitters K K and the receivers N and Q are located at one station, while the transmitters M and P and the receivers L and O are located at a distant station or distant stations-that is to say, these latter may all be at one station, or L and M may be at one station and O and P at another station. However that may be, it will be seen that all of the several devices are arranged in series, first a transmitter and then a receiver, throughout the system and that the circuit is completed through the valve-case. Should it happen that the tubecircuit I I, for example, become obstructed,

necessitating a reversal of the current through it, the valve would be moved to the position shown in Fig. 5. As a result of this the airinlet f of the valve-case would be blanked, and this would necessitate the opening of the door of the receiver N of the obstructed circuit. The current would then course normally through the unobstructed circuit J J and in the reverse direction through the obstructed circuit, thereby returning the obstructing carrier to the transmitter (M or K) at which it was inserted. Should it happen that the circuit J J become obstructed, the

.valve would be placed in the position shown in Fig. 6. This also would blank the air-inlet f and necessitate the opening of the door of the receiver Q of the obstructed circuit. The air .would then course normally through the unobstructed circuit I I and in the reverse direction through the obstructed circuit, with the result already stated.

Should the face-plate f of the valve-case be omitted, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the opening of the receiver-door will not be necessary, for the reason that the cell Z of the valve will always fall opposite the tube end into which the air from the atmosphere first enters.

For the purpose of turning the valve it is provided with a fitting R for receiving a wrench or key, and for the purpose of indicating its position it is provided with a pointer S.

For the purpose of locking the valve it is provided with properly-disposed sockets h, adapted to receive a spring-actuated bolt T, which may be withdrawn by a hand-lever t.

For a double-circuit system the transmitter comprises three cells K, K, and K two of which are normally incorporated in the two tube-circuits, respectively, while the third is always in position to receive a carrier. These cells are mounted in a frame which may consist of a pair of plates K, having sockets K for receiving the ends of the cells, said plates being connected and held permanently at the proper distance apart by posts K The cellcarrying frame thus constructed is journaled to revolve about an axis K which is equidistant from the centers of all the cells and is supported byafixed frame consisting of a pair of plates K having openings for receiving the ends of the tubes I and J, said plates being held rigidly at the proper distance apart by posts K K are sockets corresponding in number with the cells and arranged to receive a springactuated bolt K which may be retracted by a hand-lever K when the cell-frame is to be revolved. By this means the cell-frame is locked in place. With a system having only a single tube-circuit the transmitter has only two cells, and this is also true of the transmitters M and P where they are located atdift'erent stations, the system then being, so far as either of said stations is concerned, a single-circuit system.

So far as we are aware we are the first to construct a transmitter with a plurality of cells mounted to revolve about an axis and so disposed that a plurality of them. are always incorporated in the sending sides of as many tube-circuits, while one of them is always in position to receive a carrier, so that when the cell into which the carrier is inserted is once included in circuit it need not be again removed therefrom until another carrier is to be despatched.

The term tube-circuit as herein used includes a tube arranged in a circuit having two sides or branches so disposed that the air traverses both of them, together with transmitting and receiving devices so disposed in both of said sides or branches that carriers may be sent in one direction through one side and in the other direction through the other side of said circuit.

Having thus described our invention, the following is what we claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a pneumatic carrier, the combination of a tube-circuit comprising two sides extending between distant stations, a transmitter and a receiver included in each side of the tube-circuit, so that each station has a transmitter and a receiver on opposite sides of the tube-circuit, means for causing a current of air to traverse the circuit normally from the transmitter at each station to the receiver at the other station, thus making the two sides of the tube-circuit available for sending carriers in opposite directions, respectively, and means for reversing the current and causing it to traverse the circuit from the receiver at each station to the transmitter at the other station, substantially as set forth.

2. In a pneumatic carrier, the combination of a tube-circuit comprising two sides extending between distant stations, a transmitter and a receiver included in each side of the tube-circuit, so that each station has a transmitter and a receiver on opposite sides of the tube-circuit, means for causing a current of air to traverse the circuit normally from the transmitter at each station to the receiver at the other station, thus making the two sides of the tube circuit available for sending carriers in opposite directions, respectively, means for reversing the current, and causing it to traverse the circuit from the receiver at each station to the transmitter at the next for the purpose of dislodging obstructing carriers, and means for preventing the obstructing carrier from passing the transmitter to which it is thus returned, substantially as set forth.

3. In a pneumatic carrier, the combination of a plurality of tube-circuits arranged in series, transmitters and receivers included therein, and means for causing a current of air to traverse said circuits in succession, substantially as set forth.

4. In a pneumatic carrier, the combination of a plurality of tube-circuits arranged in series, transmitters and receivers included therein, means for causing a current of air to traverse said circuits in succession and means for reversing the current, substantially as set forth.

5. In a pneumatic carrier, the combination with a tube-circuit, including transmitters and receiversand a valve device having a valve-casing through which the circuit is completed, and means for causing a current to traverse the circuit normally from transmitter to receiver, said valve device having an air-inlet and a valve for reversing the current and for blanking the air-inlet when the current is reversed, the receiver nearest the valve device having a door which may be opened for the admission of air when the current is reversed, substantially as set forth.

6. In a pneumatic carrier, the combination with a plurality of tube-circuits arranged in series, transmitters and receivers included therein, means for causing a current of air to traverse the circuits in succession normally passing from transmitter to receiver, and means for reversing the current through any obstructed part of the circuits, substantially as set forth.

7. In a pneumatic carrier,'the combination with a plurality of tube-circuits arranged in series and including transmitters and receivers, a valve device through which the circuits are completed, and means for causing a current to traverse the circuits normally, said valve device having means for reversing the current through one circuit while allowing it to traverse the other normally, substantially as set forth.

8. In a pneumatic carrier, the combination of a plurality of tube-circuits including transmitters and receivers, a valve device having a casing through which said circuits are completed, and means for causing a current to traverse said circuits normally, said valve device having an air-inlet and means for blanking the air-inlet and reversing the current, the receiver at the receiving end of the obstructed circuit having a door which is adapted to be opened for the admission of air, substantially as set forth.

9. In a pneumatic carrier, the combination of a plurality of tube-circuits including transmitters and receivers, a valve device having a casing through which all said circuits are completed, said casing having an inlet for air, and means for causing a current to traverse said circuits, said valve device having a valve proper adapted to reverse the current through the tube-circuit which is remote from the air inlet of the valve-casing while permitting the current to traverse normally the circuit which is nearest said air-inlet, substantially as set forth.

10. In a pneumatic carrier,the combination of a plurality of tube-circuits including transmitters and receivers, a valve device having a casing provided with openings with which both ends of each tube-circuit communicate, said openings and circuits being so disposed that the receiving and delivering ends of the circuits alternate, and a valve having a cell adapted to connect the receiving end of one circuit with the delivering end of another circuit, and a cell adapted to connect the delivering end of one circuit with the blast apparatus, substantially as set forth.

11. In a pneumatic carrier,the combination with two sending-tubes, and means for causone direction or the other the third cell may ing a current of air to traverse them, of a be brought to register with one or the other of lo transmitter having three cells, two of which the sending-tubes, substantially as set forth.

are normally included in said sending-tubes, OASSIUS M. HAMILTON. respectively, an axis, equidistant from the ARCHIBALD S. LEOKIE. centers of said tubes, about which the cells WVitnesses:

are adapted to revolve, whereby by turning N. G. GRIDLEY,

the transmitter one-third of a revolution in I IDA CROSS. 

